Personalized lunch box

ABSTRACT

A personalized lunch box including a container having a lid that is adapted for covering an open upper end of the container. A plurality of frames are secured to an interior surface of the lid. The frames are adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein. A recording and playback device is disposed within the interior surface of the lid. The recording and playback device allows a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a personalized lunch box and more particularly pertains to providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home.

[0002] The use of combination receptacle devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, combination receptacle devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of incorporating various items of communication with receptacles are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art that have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0003] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,918 to Crowell discloses a device capable of recording, storing and playing an audible message and being used with other devices, such as a picture frame or lunch box, to allow a parent to communicate a message to a child. U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,342 to Van Pelt discloses a lunch box with a radio incorporated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,818 to Daneshvar discloses a medicine box with a cassette recorder incorporated.

[0004] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a personalized lunch box for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home.

[0005] In this respect, the personalized lunch box according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home.

[0006] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved personalized lunch box that can be used for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of combination receptacle devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved personalized lunch box. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0008] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a container having a generally rectangular configuration. The container has an open upper end, a closed lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls. The front wall has a handle secured thereto. The container holds a thermos bottle therein. A lid is adapted for covering the open upper end of the container. The lid has a generally rectangular configuration defined by a closed upper end, an open lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls. A lower edge of the back wall of the lid is hingedly coupled with an upper edge of the back wall of the container. The front wall of the lid has a latch disposed thereon for engaging the front wall of the container in a closed orientation. A plurality of frames are secured to an interior surface of the closed upper end of the lid. The frames are adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein. Each of the frames comprises a transparent enclosure having an open side wall to permit insertion of the photograph therein. A recording and playback device is disposed within the interior surface of the closed upper end of the lid. The recording and playback device allows a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time.

[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0010] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0011] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box that has all the advantages of the prior art combination receptacle devices and none of the disadvantages.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box that is of durable and reliable construction.

[0015] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box that is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a personalized lunch box economically available to the buying public.

[0016] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home.

[0017] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personalized lunch box including a container having a lid that is adapted for covering an open upper end of the container. A plurality of frames are secured to an interior surface of the lid. The frames are adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein. A recording and playback device is disposed within the interior surface of the lid. The recording and playback device allows a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time.

[0018] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the personalized lunch box constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the frames of the present invention as taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the recording and playback device of the present invention.

[0023] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to figures one through three thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved personalized lunch box embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0025] Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the device relates to a personalized lunch box for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home. In its broadest context, the device consists of a container, a lid, a plurality of frames, and a recording and playback device. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0026] The container 12 has a generally rectangular configuration. The container 12 has an open upper end 14, a closed lower end 16, a front wall 18, a back wall 20, and opposed side walls 22. The front wall 18 has a handle 24 secured thereto The container 12 holds a thermos bottle 26 therein. The container 12 is used to hold food items therein. Preferably, the container 12 will be insulated to maintain food stored therein for an extended time.

[0027] The lid 28 is adapted for covering the open upper end 14 of the container12. The lid 28, like the container 12, is insulated. The lid 28 has a generally rectangular configuration defined by a closed upper end 30, an open lower end 32, a front wall 34, a back wall 36, and opposed side walls 38. A lower edge of the back wall 36 of the lid 28 is hingedly coupled with an upper edge of the back wall 20 of the container 12. The front wall 34 of the lid 28 has a latch 40 disposed thereon for engaging the front wall 18of the container 12 in a closed orientation.

[0028] The plurality of frames 42 are secured to an interior surface of the closed upper end 30 of the lid 28. Note figures one and two. The frames 42 are adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein. Each of the frame's 42 comprises a transparent enclosure having an open side wall 44 to permit insertion of the photograph therein.

[0029] The recording and playback device 46 is disposed within the interior surface of the closed upper end 30 of the lid 28. The recording and playback device 46 allows a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time. The recording and playback device 46 includes a microphone 48, a record button 50, memory means 52, a play button 54, a D/A converter 56, and a speaker 58. A parent or care giver will simply press the record button 50 and speak into the microphone whereupon a message is recorded via the memory means 52. The child merely has to press the play button 54 to hear the recorded message through the speaker 58. It should be noted that the parent or care giver car record new messages on a daily basis.

[0030] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0031] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0032] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A personalized lunch box for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home comprising, in combination: a container having a generally rectangular configuration, the container having an open upper end, a closed lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls, the front wall having a handle secured thereto, the container holding a thermos bottle therein; a lid adapted for covering the open upper end of the container, the lid having a generally rectangular configuration defined by a closed upper end, an open lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls, a lower edge of the back wall of the lid hingedly coupled with an upper edge of the back wall of the container, the front wall of the lid having a latch disposed thereon for engaging the front wall of the container in a closed orientation; a plurality of frames secured to an interior surface of the closed upper end of the lid, the frames being adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein, each of the frames being comprised of a transparent enclosure having an open side wall to permit insertion of the photograph therein; and a recording and playback device disposed within the interior surface of the closed upper end of the lid, the recording and playback device allowing a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time.
 2. A personalized lunch box for providing a young child assurances and remembrances while away from home comprising, in combination: a container; a lid adapted for covering the container; a plurality of frames secured to an interior surface of the lid, the frames being adapted for receiving photographs and the like therein; and a recording and playback device disposed within the interior surface of the lid, the recording and playback device allowing a personalized message to be recorded and played back at a later time.
 3. The personalized lunch box as set forth in claim two, wherein the container holds a thermos bottle therein.
 4. The personalized lunch box as set forth in claim two, wherein the lid has a latch disposed thereon for engaging the container in a closed orientation.
 5. The personalized lunch box as set forth in claim two, wherein each of the frames is comprised of a transparent enclosure having an open side wall to permit insertion of the photograph therein. 